Deadline to have insurance by new year is Dec. 15

At a meeting with legislatures in Little Rock this week, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield presented an early look at the number of people who are signing up for their insurance programs and health insurance available through three other providers in Arkansas.

Less than 200 people statewide have signed up for health insurance using Healthcare.gov statewide, according to Max Greenwood of Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Greenwood said the company expected some problems, but none like what they have seen so far.

“We knew that there would be issues and glitches with the process, but we didn’t realize they would be as large as they are,” Greenwood said.

Tyler Clark, who works in community development at the Community Clinic of Northwest Arkansas, said that while problems with the website have been a big obstacle, customers can still enroll in the exchange via an 800 number, paper enrollment and enrolling in person.

The number of people who have signed up by phone or in person will not be released until later in November.

Clark said having money to pay for the first month premium is a more important contributing factor at play.

“Especially if you’re living pay check to pay check, people are going to wait ‘till the last moment to pay,” he said. “So some folks are going to wait because they’re trying to put food on the table, gas in the tank.”

Clark said those waiting to start their insurance need to remember the deadline to have insurance by the new year is Dec. 15.